Soon after the lecture finish, Geet had wanted to rush home straight away. She knew Jai was due to call later on today and having missed her chance in the morning; she wasn't prepared to miss out on it this time. However that wasn't the only thing that was playing Geet's mind. Having met Sanju after so many years, had made Geet want to stay back and talk to her and have their girly chat and catch up -but then she may miss out on her chance to talk to Jai and considering he was amongst friends.....there was no definite number that she would be able to contact him on.
Oh Babaji kya karoon -what to do.....this is not an easy situation -aapko pata hai na....Geet and difficult situation ya abnormal conditions are a complete no no...toh phir....why do you have to put me in them? Uffooo....... ek taraf my bhai -my ever so loving brother....and on the other my long lost best friend who I haven't seen in like forever......but then Jai toh is due back soon kuch dinnon main so........but then I will see Sanju everyday -she's on my course.....we can catch up another day.....just not today na......there's no hurry -we have a 3 year course to get on.......but then.....argh......3 years is nothing compared to the life I have with Jai....Jai isn't going anywhere...but Sajnu...she may have to leave.........just like last time.....nono I won't let this happen this time........but then...uffo babaji kya aisa nahi ho sakta...that both are here together in the same place and no-one has to leave? I can live with both and we can all stay together- haaan that is perfect but then for that......nahi nahi what am I thinking -uffoo solution ke bajay -I'm thinking of crazy things....these two -together...nahi nahi what crazy thought..never......no no.....yeh nahi ho sakta....but then what to do....oh hooo....kya karoon.....hmmm soch Geet kuch toh soch.....
Sanju: What's up Geet.......Don't you want to go home??
Geet: Huh...home...yeah noo I mean yeah...noo I mean.....I duno......erm what about you?? You staying or.....
Sanju: Haha Geet you haven't changed one bit -still the confused self that you always were........never know what to do til the last moment -hahaha....
Geet smiles: Woh to hai..........after all if I wasn't confused........then life would be a tad bit boring -don't you think.................who likes to take decisions in the first instant -what's the joy in that -we should have to think a little and ponder a little and then take a well thought decision na -with all the pros and con...
Sanju: Ok Ok I get the point....you can stop now -haha...shall we now???.....
Geet looks at Sanju and the direction she is pointing in.............out of uni?? Huh she wanted to leave?? She didn't want to talk to me.....but I thought......... *Geet's face changes a little and her smile disappears as she feels a little dejected*
Sanju: well actually Geet -you see.....erm...*As Sanju notices the dropped face and tries to justify things*....as much I wanted to stay and chat with you, the thing is.......we have guests coming round today....woh I told u na my cousin shifted recently -the one I'm staying with.....*Geet nods acknowledging her*......yh well erm her to be in laws are coming over today for dinner and I didn't know I would be meeting you here and so had already promised I would come early to help out...but you don't worry.....I mean......we have so much time on our hands and I'm not going anywhere and I don't think you will either -I mean I'm not so bad a friend am I, that I hold capacity to scare you away- so we can always catch up again -haha haina
Geet: Oh no Sanju...........you just made me realise.........3 years with you...............on the same course.......that means I'll be seeing you face everyday now............haww....come to think of it........I was better off without seeing you now yaar........ab pata nai mera din kaise guzare ga – teri photo album main dekh kart oh pehle se hi rona aata tha..............ab toh tu real life figure mere saamne hogi -oh no................what will I do now?????
Sanju looked at Geet astonished at what she had just said...........but shortly after that both girls burst out in laughter..........so much so they had tears forming in their eyes -both held onto their stomachs due to the excess laughing both were experiencing........Geet couldn't take it anymore -she was just about to collapse witht he laughter when Sanju came to the rescue and held Geet in an embrace both supporting the other from falling whilst still laughing......................tears now falling shamelessly down their cheeks......
Geet: Oh GOD....I don't think I have laughed so much in my life........ever.....hahaha omg....
Sanju: Hmmmm too right...............Oh god -I sure did miss you Geet.................I'm glad we both met today.............it felt so good.........
Geet: Hmmm..........you're right.........haha........
Saying that both girls made their way to the station -somehow whilst getting the weirdest looks from passer-bys who noticed the two giggling and in a way seeming drunk -on what you may ask........well Tishuu suggests happiness and overwhelming feelings of the reunion with a close one!!!!!!
4pm – later that day
"Oh Maan you're home at last...I was just about to phone you and ask what time you were thinking to be back for." Spoke Simran as she walked over to a pale looking Maan from the dining area to the living room, where Maan just about managed to slump himself over the sofa in a sitting position.
Mrs. K: Arre beta, what's the matter? You seem quite tired.......you should go rest......
Maan: No ma......don't worry -it was a long day today -that's all......
*Maan got himself off the sofa and walked over to his mother who was seated across from him and sat on the floor with his head in her lap – like he used to when he much younger*
Simran patted her son's head lightly.....................understanding her son's need to feel relaxed and comfortable. Both remained silent for some time, letting the moment just hold them in that position and the motherly-son love to keep their smiles upon them.
After a while Simran broke the silence
Mrs. K: So how was your day beta? Anything interesting
Maan: Hmm.....it was good ma.....
Mrs. K: Just...good? Bas?
Maan: Hmm........well.........*looking up at his mother trying to figure what she wanted to know*
Mrs. K: Well......did you meet anyone new? Interesting? Make any new friends?
Maan just remained silent, thinking of what to possibly say, he was, needless to say, least bit bothered to be conversing -he just wanted to be enjoying the "sakooon of his mothers aanchal".
Mrs. K: Ok how about you tell me what did today then....hmm??
Maan: Well.....we had a lecture on the bonding of particles and the geometrical shape they retain when the thermodynamics around them ar.....
Mrs. K: Beta............*giving him a slight slap on his cheek* you know your mother will never understand these sciencey words and you know I am least bit interested to have your lectures relayed to me....................tell me something different...............acha tell me.........who did you meet today.....and how's that....oh ho what was her name..........oh ho........ab beta you know who I am talking about right.....woh
Maan: Jenny! It's Jenny......yes she's ok -I met her today too........in fact I was talking to her about the big cake shabbang you guys are done this morning. Haha the girl thought it was a cute idea...hahaha honestly she doesn't know that Maan Singh Khurana and "cute" did not go together.........
Mrs. K: Haha .......but it's not her fault she doesn't know that yet........I'm sure you must've given her a good lecture about it -bechari......
Maan: BECHARI???? Oh no ma -she is not angel ok......you don't know how much she irritated me today and teased me -omg I cannot even begin to describe...you know what she said today when her told her about the eye............*and Maan just stopped realising what he was about to say, he looked up at his mother to see that she had evidently been listening in to him because her eyes now narrowed and looked at him with questions -questions which he did not even have answers to*
Maan: Woh.....I mean.........eye.....eye makeup -her eye makeup was a little messed about and I just pointed it out to her........and she instead started making fun of me -can you believe that....*hoping his mother had bought that.........which if anyone saw her would have believed so...........but of course what came next just proved otherwise*
Mrs. K: But beta.....Jenny doesn't wear make-up, haina....I mean I thought you said she hated make up and those artificial things..........she was a rather tomboyish girl na...........toh.......
Maan had cursed his luck, but it didn't last long as his attention was diverted by a sound. It was the same sound as before -only......a little different...........it certainly didn't have the same ring to it.......but.......the sound was getting louder.....and by the actions of his mother -who by the way was still caressing her son's head and looking down at him and his constant change in facial expressions -he was the only one who could hear the ........jingle of.....an anklet.....no no he's imagining things again....noo......it can't be................could it......no no........but what if.........
Maan tried to divert his mind hoping it would work in keeping the sound out.
Maan: Er ma......where's everyone today? The house seems quite.......quiet.....I mean........normally we would hear the sound of the butler or something but today............it's.....pin-drop silence (saying the last bit as if convincing himself )
Mrs. K: Hmmm yes well your daadi is gone to drop off bibi ji, dad had to go meet a friend and dev and NT are....
"Here!"
Maan and Simran turned to look towards Tara who by now was making her way in, from the front door.
Mrs. K: Naintara??? You here?? Why??........How......? I mean......
NT: Well...you see mummyji...your dear son........as always got a call at the last minute and had to leave for the office, something about some business deal and having to go abroad for it -uss hi silsile main he had to go back -I think papaji too went there -I heard Dev calling and asking if he could meet him in the office.
Maan: Ouch..............wow......bro really knows how to stand someone up -BIG TIME!!!!!!!
*NT threw a cushion at him*
Maan: Hey...........what did I do?.....it's true.......
NT: Yeh and you know what else is true?.....*advancing towards him*
Maan: What...*standing up and backing away before the sofa that his mother was sat on*.........that......you're going to soon be marrying.......this "stander upper" type of person .....*letting out a laugh, before making a quick escape as she saw NT dash for him around the sofa*
"Woah hold on.........hey I was just stating the truth........hey it's not my fault if the truth hurts..........Tara no..........please......come on....noo......hey it's my birthday today........no.........be nice.....come on......hey........." Maan struggled in between his laughs as NT chased behind him in the living room and around the sofas, whilst throwing the cushions at him, which would bounce off him or he would catch and then try to replace – only for NT to grab and aim at him again.
Amongst all the running about, Maan heard the sound again.........he tried to ignore it at first but the sound was just not stopping. He looked around whilst trying to get away from NT and then it struck him.......he saw the offending piece in question..........anklets......that too on NT's feet.........Maan instantly stopped.....and stared at NT............
Maan: Tara.......these.......*not being able to voice the name of the object, he pointed towards them*
NT: Oh these.....................haha......a small token of how sorry your brother was for, as you would say "standing me up on a dinner he promised with me and my family"
Maan looked up at her – even more confused: Wha...what?
Simran spoke up: I'll explain.......your dear bro was meant to be going around to Naintara's house for dinner with her dad and her cousin who has moved over. Initially me and you dad were meant to join too, but your papa had some work to do and so we dropped out but until earlier on in the afternoon, from what I recall, Dev was to meet Naintara and they were to go for dinner at her house.......but from Naintara's explanation.......you're bro and office are inseparable and so...
NT: ...so he gifted these anklets as a sorry........*as both NT and Simran broke into a laugh and NT walked over to Simran's side*
Maan was obviously not liking what he heard...........the sound of the jingle kept reminding him of something..............no – it was making him crazy...............Maan hated not being in control.....especially if he was completely oblivious to what it was his mind kept thinking of.......nooo....this had to stop.....the jingle.........it was playing on his mind.......then the eyes just kept appearing in front of him.....noo......arghhhhh
Maan couldn't take it anymore and just dashed up the stairs to his room- slamming his door shut loudly.
NT and Simran's bmoment of joy was interrupting with the slamming sound and both broke out to realise that Maan had now disappeared into his room......
NT: Isse kya hua???
Mrs. K: Pata nai.......probably just tired from a long day and the long commute he has to and from his uni place. *turns to a slightly disappointed NT, and placing a loving hand on her cheek*
Don't worry............we'll let him rest a little.......he'll be better soon.......come on......I could do with some tea from your hands........you make the best
With that said both ladies made their way to the kitchen, whilst Maan in his room....lay on his bed......deep in thoughts.................
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